Ilkay Gündogan: "It was exactly the start we needed"
| Ilkay Gündogan, Germany | Photo: Steffen Prößdorf, CC BY-SA 4.0 |
Germany captain Ilkay Gündogan was overjoyed after Friday's 5-1 Euro 2024 opening win over Scotland.
"We played with great intensity right from the start and had an incredibly good first half. It was exactly the start we needed," Gündogan said in a post-match interview.
“I had a good feeling before the game. Thank God there was a reason for it. The goal we conceded was a good warning for us that we can't take a step back.”
The 33-year-old was pleased to have responded to the pre-tournament criticism with a strong performance.
“I am confident enough to know what I can do. I'm happy that I was able to make my teammates better today,” said the FC Barcelona midfielder.
Commenting on the nasty foul on him that led to Germany's penalty at the end of the first half, Gündogan said:
“All good. The ligament was not affected. I've had worse.”
Gündogan and Germany continue their Euro 2024 campaign against Hungary on Wednesday.
